Feeding Chickens Eggshells Or Oyster Shells For Essential Calcium ...

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- DIY Skincare
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- Sustainable Crafts
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- Return Policy
About
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Oh, to be a laying hen and regularly produce eggs… It is a natural but somewhat tedious affair! Some chickens lay eggs daily, some once per week or less, and some in between. Did you know that eggshells are made up of almost pure calcium? Yup, they sure are – nearly 100% calcium carbonate crystals!

The biological process of forming and laying an egg slightly depletes the hen of her calcium reserves. Without a way to replenish the calcium used, serious and even life-threatening conditions may result! For example, if a hen is not provided adequate free-choice calcium in her diet, and thus cannot properly form eggshells, she may lay soft-shell eggs, become dangerously egg-bound, or even have an egg break inside of her. Those scary scenarios deserve a post of their own (which I plan to write soon!) but for now, let’s focus on proactive prevention.

There are a couple of ways you can provide calcium to your laying chickens to keep them as healthy as possible. Two popular choices are to feed chickens eggshells and/or oyster shells. Let’s discuss those options, along with some best practices and things to avoid.